Method and apparatus for transporting support material

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus for transporting materials into contact with a member with which the material interacts. A cable drive moves a belt on a carriage holding the materials so that the materials have no relative motion with the work member they contact while in contact. The cable drive operates to rapidly index the belt to ready new material for contact with the work member and to more easily remove contacted material. An embodiment is used for transferring photoelectrophoretic images to support material by a transport capable of presenting the support material in rolling contact with the image to be transferred with suitable field conditions.

United States Patent [72] Inventor John M. Reynard 3,464,818 9/1969 Waly355/3 X A l N m gg Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews [2!] i 1969Assistant Examiner-Richard L. Moses [22] F Q J ly Attorneys-James J.Ralabate, David G. Petre and Barry J. [45] Patented Dec. 28, 1971Kesselman [73] Assignee Xerox Corporation Roebeeter,N.Y.

ABSTRACT: Method and apparatus for transporting materials into contactwith a member with which the material in- METHOD AND APPAAEATUS FORTRANSPORTING teracts. A cable drive moves a belt on a carriage holdingthe SUPPORT MATE" materials so that the materials have no relativemotion with the work member they contact while in contact. The cable[52] US. 35513, drive operates to rapidly index the belt to ready newmaterial 355/ 16 for contact with the work member and to more easilyremove [51] gfl G03 15/00 contacted material. An embodiment is used fortransferring [50] l ieldolsearch 355/3, 16 photoelectrophoretic imagesto support material by a transport capable of presenting the supportmaterial in rolling con- 1 Ram CM tact with the image to be transferredwith suitable field condi- UNITED STATES PATENTS tions.

2,990,278 6/1961 Carlson 355/3 X PATENTED m2 8 l97| SHEET 3 BF 3 METHODAND APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING SUPPORT MATERIAL This invention relatesin general to transporting and more particularly to transportingflexible materials for contacting work stations.

An illustrative system improved'by this invention is of the type usingphotosensitive radiant energy-absorbing particles believed to bear acharge when suspended in a nonconductive liquid carrier. The suspensionof these particles in the carrier is placed in an electroded system tobe exposed to an image radiation configuration. For a detaileddescription of the operation of this system, see U.s. Pat. Nos.3,384,565 in the names of V. Tulagin and L. M. Carreira; 3,384,566 to H.E. Clark; and 3,383,993 to S. Yea, all issued on May 2], I968. Theparticles inthis system migrate in image configuration providing avisual image at one or both of the electrodes between which they areplaced. The system employs particles which are photosensitiveand whichapparently undergo a net charge alteration upon exposure to activatingradiation by interaction with one of the electrodes. Various mixtures oftwo or more different colored particles can be used to secure variouscolors of images and imaging mixes having different spectral responses.These colors can be.used independently or even in subtractive colorsynthesis. In a monochromatic system, the particles will migrate-ifenergy of any, wavelength within the panchromatic spectrum of theparticle response strikes the particle. l g

It has been found that images produced by the system broadly describedare of excellent quality in both monochromatic and polychromaticsystems. However, it is frequently undesirable to merely produce-animage on an electrode. Thus, for example, when a high-quality opticalreusable electrode is employed, the use of a new electrode each time theimaging process is carried out might make the process prohibitivelyexpensive and unsuitable for many applications. Therefore, it has beenfound better to transfer the image formed on one of the electrodes ofthe system to a flexible support material such as paper, cellophane, orthe like. This transfer or support material may have an adhesive coatingthereon to help draw the image off the image bearing member or maymerely be bond paper or other materials that, when placed adjacent tothe image bearing member under suitable conditions of electric fieldwill draw the image from the member to its surface. A problem,especially in automated machinery, is to automatically bring the supportmaterial into contact with the image bearing member for transfer of theimage to the support material. The invention herein is a system to bringvarious support materials into transfer contact with the image bearingmember where, by suitable transfer techniques, the image can be strippedfrom the contacted member onto the support material and the supportmaterial easily removed from the apparatus while a second supportmaterial sheet is positioned for presentation to the image bearingelectrode when a transfer of the image is again required in the machinecycle.

Another use for the system is to transport sheets or the like fortransfer or fusing within a xerographic apparatus.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to improve transfer ofelectrophoretic imaging systems by providing practical means forautomating the transfer of images to support materials. Another objectof this invention is to provide means for presenting support material toimage bearing members and removing the support material after transferof an image thereto.

Yet another object is to transport support material into and out ofclose proximity with a contact member and then automatically presentunused support material for transport past the member.

The foregoing objects and others are accomplished in accordance withthis invention by introducing a driven transport apparatus having adouble movement system providing for traversing a member with acarriage. The carriage maintains a I support material to be brought intoclose proximity and in nonmoving contact with the member. Aftercompletion of the traverse, the carriage of the transport maintainingthe support material is indexed to provide a new support materialsurface for interaction with the member. Further objects of the presentinvention are accomplished in relation to photoelectrophoretic imagetransfer and xerographic image transfer by bringing a support materialinto close proximity with the formed image on the image bearing memberof the imaging system and applying an electrical field across the zoneof contact between the image bearing member and the support material atsuch a field direction as to transfer the image to the support material.Because of the broad contact area between the image bearing member andthe support material, due to the physical arrangement of the transportsystem bringing the support material into contact with the image bearingmember, a more complete transfer in photoelectrophoretic images can beachieved in a shorter period of time.

Any suitable technique may be employed for applying the electrical fieldfor transfer including forming the support material maintainingstructure with a conductive backing strip and an insulating sleeve. Anysuitable technique may be employed for applying the electrical fieldbehind the support material maintaining member such as applying a rollerplate or other conductive element for connecting to a high potentialsource to the substrate or applying a high potential corona discharge tothe back of the transfer substrate while it is in close proximity withthe image. In the preferred form, the polarity of the applied field willbe opposite to the polarity applied to the imaging member of the imagingsystem. Thus, if the imaging member is negatively charged the potentialapplied behind the transfer substrate will be positive in charge andvice versa.

The transport apparatus is also usable with an image fixing or fusingapparatus being the work station with which the transport operates tobring support material.

The transport system itself may maintain a support material to be usedto transfer an image or may be formed of a material suitable for thepurpose of transfer or any other purpose to which the transport is put.The transport is formed of a carriage that can be driven across a workstation such as an image bearing member or the like while the supportmaterial maintained on the carriage is moved to be preferably in rollingcontact with the work station as the carriage traverses in closeproximity thereto. After passing the work station, the support materialon the carriage is indexed by suitable drive. means that further serveto achieve the rolling contact motion during the traversing of thecarriage past the work station. In a preferred embodiment, the mechanismis operated by a drive to pull the carriage across a path in closeproximity to the work station and a cable or the like held fast duringthe,

traversing movement causes the necessary relative motion between thesupport member and the transport to allow rolling contact past the workstation. The cable is then used to index the support material to aproper position for a return stroke of the carriage to once again movepast the work station for another operation.

The advantages of this improved transport system particularly relativeto transfer of image will become further apparent upon consideration ofthe following detailed disclosure of the invention; especially whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

HO. 1 is a schematic side view of the transport system in conjunctionwith a xerographic imaging system;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along-line 2-2 of H6. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic isometric view of the transport system in theenvironment of a photoelectrophoretic imaging system, and

FIG. 4 is a schematic isometric view of the drive cable for thetransport of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the Figures, FIG. 1 is a schematic representation ofthis invention in relation to a xerographic copying apparatus. Thexerographic apparatus is schematically shown with a xerographic memberor photoreceptor belt 10 mounted over three rollers 12, l4'and l6 atleast one of which drives the belt with the others functioning as idlerrollers. All are journaled for rotation to permit movement of the beltin the direction indicated by the arrow to cause the surface of the beltto sequentially pass a plurality of xerographic processing stations. Forthe purpose of the present disclosure, the several xerographicprocessing stations in the path of movement of the xerographic membermay be described functionally as follows:

a charging station A at which a uniform electrostatic charge isdeposited on the photoconductive layer of the xerographic member anexposure station located preferably as shown by reference character B atwhich a light or radiation pattern of copy is exposed onto thephotoreceptive member to dissipate the charge on the exposed portionsthereof forming a latent electrostatic image of the pattern of theobject 18 illuminated by lamps 20 through a lens 22;

a developing station C whereat the latent electrostatic image isdeveloped by cascading an electrostatic developer over the belt 10forming a toner image corresponding to the latent electrostatic image onthe belt;

an image transfer station D where the toner image is electrostaticallytransferred from the belt surface to a transfer material with the use ofa corona discharge device 23; and

a cleaning station E where the belt is cleansed of residual toner and isdischarged in order to prepare the belt surface for the next cycle.

At the transfer station is the carriage generally referred to as 24which presents a sheet of support material, such as sheet 26, to thesurface of the belt 10 for contact therewith to remove the toner imagefrom the belt to the support material. The carriage 24 is movedlaterally across the lower surface of the belt by any drive means suchas a first drive means motor M-l, connected to a pulley 28 which movesthe transport in the direction shown by the arrow through a cable ortape or the like designated 29 and clamped to the transport by clamps3]. Friction reducing movement is provided by passing cable 29 throughpulley rollers 33 and idler roller 35. The transport traverses thexerographic belt 10 with a transfer material 26 maintained between thetwo. The speed of the transport surface, being a belt or a sleeve 30, isexactly matched to the speed of the xerographic belt 10 so that thesupport material 26 will not smear the toner image on the belt 10 duringthe contact therewith. I

In order to accomplish this result and yet have the transport move backand forth across the belt presenting a different sheet to thexerographic belt 10 each time, it is necessary to provide the belt 30with a velocity different from the transport member. Not only must thisspeed be different from the speed of the transport but it must berelated to it and to the speed of the xerographic belt. Variable speedscan be built in to cause the belt 30 to move at different speeds on themovement of the transport from one side of the belt to the other. It isalso required that the belt 30 be indexed to present a clean sheet ofsupport material for transfer at the xerographic belt while permittingremoval of a previously used sheet. lndexing" here means the moving ofthe belt 30 when out of contact with the work station (xerographic belt10) while the carriage 24 is moving or stationary in order to bring thebelt 30 around the carriage for easy removal of the used sheet and forsetting a new sheet in position on the belt 30 to contact the workstation as the carriage traverses it and the belt rotates.

Programmer means are incorporated into the structure of the transportsystem in order to achieve the results that follow. The belt member 30is held on two support rollers 32 and 34 maintained a predetermineddistance apart by a rod 36 which through bearings connect with each ofthe support rollers. The rod 36 also fon'ns a runner which moves overthe guide rail 38 giving support to the transport system and determiningthe path which will be traveled by the transport as it oscillates suchas clamp 40 maintain the support material 26 at fixed positions on thebelt 30 of the carriage 24. The rail 38 is suitably mounted to the frameof the machine. The motion given to the belt 30 around the supportrollers 32 and 34 of carriage 24 is provided by a chain drive althoughany drive connector means are usable. The motion of the rollers isdetermined by a chain 42 wrapped around an idler pulley 44 and a powerpulley 46. The chain is wrapped completely around, and rests in suitablegrooves 48, within, the transport belt 30. Alternatively, separatepulleys on the support rollers 34 and 32 could be provided to engage thesprockets of the chain 42 to transmit the required motion to the belt30. Although the chain is shown exaggeratedly below the transport, it isactually preferable to have the pulleys 44 and 46 mounted so that thechain is parallel with the carriage 24. lf this were not the situation,a distance compensating mechanism must be established. An elastic membercan be added to the drive chain 42 or an elastic cable can be used. Thiswould require a motor speed control and feedback system to compensatespeed variations with stretch. Obviously, this is a more complex systembut the schematic illustrations used here point out the structure usedand should not be regarded as to scale or as preferring a chain beingnonparallel to the transport.

Motion to the chain is provided by a second drive means designated M-Zthrough a suitable gear box 50 through a shaft 51 to one of the chainpulleys 44 having means to engage the sprockets of the chain for nonslipmovement of the chain thereover. The chain material can be standardmetal chain, plastic chain, nylon or alternatively timing belts,friction belts or any other flexible means suitable for the requiredtransmission of motion to the belt 30. i

The motor M-2 and the gear box 50 are capable of delivering at least twospeeds to the chain 42 for moving the support surface 26 past thexerographic belt 10. Further, the gear box 50 or motor M-2 is capable ofreversing the direction of movement of the chain 42. The surfacevelocities given to the belt 30 maintaining the transfer material 26 inthe embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are related to the constantvelocity of the xerographic member 10 in the following relationship.

Assume that the surface velocity of the xerographic belt 10 is X inchesper second in the direction indicated by the vertical arrow in FIG. 1and assume that the velocity of the carriage 24 (consider the velocityof the connecting rod 36) is Y in the direction indicated by thetwo-headed arrow.

The velocity of the sheet 26 as well as the belt 30 is given a velocity2Y (with respect to ground or a stationary observer standing at point 40on the lower side of the belt 30 along a portion of the belt 30 underthe sheet 26 as shown in FIG. 1 if the cable 42 were held fast). Themotor M-2 and gear box 50 must subtract from 2Y enough to yield X withrespect to ground.

Let the drive motor and gear box combination subtract a velocity equalto 2 from the system. Therefore:

In other words, the drive motor adds. 2Y-X in the opposite direction tothe movement of the belt 30. Therefore the motor-gear box combinationdrives the sheet 26 X+2Y (X--( 2Y)) units in the opposite direction fromthe movement when both the belt 10 and the carriage move in the samedirection. This relationship holds for either direction movement of thecarriage and any velocity of the carriage and the contacting member suchas belt 10 in FIG. 1 or the stationary member 60 in FIG. 3.

Depending on the absolute numerical values of X and Y it is possiblethat the surface velocity of the belt 30 will have to be in differentdirections as well as at different magnitudes when the movement of thecarriage 24 is reversed across the belt 10. lf that is the situation,the gear ratio must permit the necessary change in magnitude of thevelocities and provide a reversal in the direction of movement of thechain drive. Any suitable gearing apparatus known in the art isacceptable for the accomplishment of the required velocities for thisinvention. An alternative to separate gearing connections for achievingthe velocities required is to provide a multispeed and/or reversablemotor M-2 preset to achieve the desired velocity characteristicsnecessary to permit the support material 26 to pass across the surfaceof the xerographic belt in nonslip contact for the transfer of the tonerimage from the belt to the support material without the smudgingthereof.

The carriage with the belt 30 wrapped therearound moves past the workstation so that the belt 30 no longer contacts the xerographic belt 10,thereby preventing interference between the support material 26 on thebelt 30 and the xerographie belt 10 at the work station. The chain ismade to index so that the support material 26, which by this time is atthe bottom side of the transport belt 30, is brought to the top forremoval from the belt 30. This may be done while the carriage 24 isstill moving or after it has come to rest.

To provide for continuous operation of the transport on the returnstroke past the xerographic belt 10, just prior to the indexing motionby the chain 42 a separate sheet of support material 26 can be added tothe top portion of the belt 30. Now when the belt 30 is indexed, notonly is the sheet with the image on it brought to the top portion of thebelt 30 but the clean sheet just placed on the belt 30 is moved intoposition for contacting the xerographic belt 10 when the transport movesalong its return stroke past the belt 10. To index the belt 30 it isnecessary for the chain 42 to pull the belt 30 around the rollers 32 and34 supporting the carriage. The carriage may be moving or stationarysince the operation of indexing is superposed on the movement of thecarriage 24 across the rail 38. An actuator means can be used forengaging motor M-2 the chain 42 moves along its path causing the belt 30to turn. By energizing the motor M-2 for the proper period of time suchas by rotation at a higher speed, the belt 30 rotates through asufficient amount of travel to bring the image sheet 26 to a positionfor easy removal from the carriage as well as to bring a clean sheet,placed on the belt 30, to a predetermined position for later contactwith the xerographic belt 10 upon the return stroke of the transportsleeve or belt 30 past the xerographic belt 10.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 relates to the use of a transport systemin conjunction with a photoelectrophoretic imaging system. Thephotoelectrophoretic imaging system member 60 is an injecting electrodecomposed of a transparent glass substrate 62 and an overcoatedelectrical coating layer 64. The injecting electrode may have a layer oftin oxide coating on the glass which forms a composite that iscommercially available under the name of NESA from Pittsburgh PlateGlass Co. Any other suitable structure usable with the electrophoreticimaging system as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,383,993; 3,384,565 and3,384,566 (the disclosures ofwhich are incorporated herein) isacceptable with this invention. Deposited on the electrical conductinglayer 64 of the injecting electrode 60 is a thin layer of finely dividedphotosensitive particles dispersed in an insulating liquid carrier. Thisis the imaging suspension 66 from which a final image is formed.

The injecting electrode is schematically shown in two positions. Thefirst (and dotted) is for inking and imaging and the second is fortransferring. When the injecting electrode is in the first position, thesuspension is deposited on the NESA surface from a suspension supplytank 67. After the suspension is applied to the electrode, a blockingelectrode 68 contacts the injecting electrode 60. The blocking electrodehas a layer of blocking material, that is, material which once contactedby photosensitive particles will not inject a charge into a sufficientnumber of them to cause a migration from the blocking electrode.

The term photosensitive" for the purposes of this invention refers tothe properties of a particle which, once attracted to the injectingelectrode, will migrate away from it under the influence of an appliedelectric field when exposed to sufficient activating electromagneticradiation. The term suspension" may be defined as a system having solidparticles dispersed in a solid, liquid or gas. Nevertheless, thesuspension described in the embodiment herein is of the general typeineluding that having a solid suspended in a liquid carrier. The term"injecting electrode" refers to the electrode the properties of whichapparently inject charges into photosensitive particles activated byelectromagnetic radiation while under the influence of an electricfiled. i

The photosensitive suspension 66 is subjected to electromagneticradiation in image configuration by, for example, shining a light source70through an object such as a transparency 71 which is imaged through alens 72 to the photosensitive suspension 66 on the surface of theinjecting electrode 60. More or less simultaneously with the projectionof the object to the suspension, an electric field is applied betweenthe electrodes 60 and 68. This is done by any suitable electrical energysource such as source 73 providing potential for a field between theblocking electrode and the grounded'NESA surface. The field can be ineither direction although, as shown, the blocking electrode is negativerelative to the NESA surface.

The mechanism functions such that when the activated blocking electrode68 traverses the surface of the injecting electrode 60, an electricfield is formed at the interface of the two electrodes. The particleswithin the suspension are nonconductive unless they are struck withactivating radiation. Under the influence of the applied electric fieldthe negative particles come into contact with or are closely adjacent tothe injecting electrode 60 and remain there. When activating radiationstrikes the photosensitive particles they, through the process describedin the above-cited patents, migrate selectively from the injectingelectrode leaving an image formed thereon for transfer to a suitablesupport member. The carriage 74 functions in a manner similar to thatdescribed in relation to the carriage 24 of FIG. 1. A differencehere isthat the motor mechanisms are simplified since the transport traverses astationary member rather than a moving xerographic belt. I Q

The sequencing of events for forming and transferring an image is asfollows. When the apparatus is activated, the suspension is applied tothe injecting electrode in its first position by suspension supply tank67.Next to traverse the injecting electrode is the blocking electrode 68which forms an image on the injecting electrode 60 suitable fortransfer. Next, the injecting electrode with the optical system moves tothe transfer position and the carriage 74 traverses the injectingelectrode with the chain -76 held stationary during the movement of thecarriage 74. This permits the lateral translation of the carriage 74along the rails while providing for the turning of the sleeve 77 aroundthe support rollers 78 and 79 and brace 80 maintaining the rollers. Thesurface movement of the sleeve 77 is such that it is directly oppositeand equal in magnitude to the translation of the carriage 74 across theinjecting electrode 60. Therefore, the support material maintained onthe sleeve 77 contacts and is stripped away from the injecting electrodein a nonskid manner as the transport traverses the injecting electrode.During transfer the injecting electrode is illuminated in imagewiseradiation and a field is maintained between the injecting electrode andthe transfer transport. To aid in transfer of the image, a plate 81 ispositioned behind the sleeve 77 of the transport and is biasedpositively by suitable electrical source 82.

The carriage 74 is moved out of contact with the injecting electrode andis indexed by the chain 76 moving a predetermined distance to bring thesupport material with the image thereon to the upper portion of thetransport as viewed while moving a clean sheet placed on the transportto a predetermined ready position for contact with the injectingelectrode on the return stroke of the transport. The indexing movementis achieved by a motor M-3 connected through a gear box 83 to one of thepulley sets 84 of the transport system by a shaft 85. The chain 76 isheld in slots 86 within the sleeve 77. However, pulleys could beextended -from rollers 78 and 79 to maintain the chain for its function.

Before the return stroke, the injecting electrode is moved to theposition to be inked with the imaging suspension by supply on the sleeve77. This permits better use of the electrical field supplied by theconnected plate 81.

The broad area of contact between the transfer sheet and the injectingelectrode permit better transfer of the images than would be the casewith a circular cylindrical roller traversing the electrode for the sameperiod of time. Since the sleeve 77 of the carriage 74 is made up of acomposite material having a conductive backing sheet and an insulatingcover the electrical contact made by plate 8! permits a field to existacross the entire area of contact between the carriage 74 and theilluminated injecting electrode 60. This provides for the transfer ofthe image for the entire time of contact between any portions of theinjecting electrode and the support material maintained on the carriage74.

FIG. 4 shows the looping of the chain around the sleeve 77 of thetransport system. The chain" may be composed of chain links, tape,cable, timing strips or the like and may be made of any material usuallyemployed for such a device.

As for the sequencing of events on the transport itself, there is amovement of the entire transport along the rail supporting it at aconstant velocity until the transport is past the work station withwhich it is to be engaged. After passing the work station and eitherwhile still moving or after coming to rest a second sheet of unusedsupport material is positioned at a predetermined portion of the surfaceof the transport and the transport surface is indexed by movement of thechain drive in order to move the unused sheet to a predeterminedposition for later use at the work station on or during the returnstroke of the transport. Simultaneously, the previously used supportmaterial that has already passed through the work station is moved to aposition for removal from the transport. The chain drive will eitherremain stationary causing the surface of the transport to move at apredetermined velocity while the support material on it is at the workstation in order to achieve relative nonmotion of the support materialwith the member working on it at the work station or the chain will bemoved at a predetermined velocity in order to achieve relative nonmotionwith the member contacted at the work station. Generally then, thesystem functions to permit nonslip movement of a support material at theworkstation of the apparatus with which it is combined while providingmeans to remove used support material and supply unused support materialat such positions along the surface of the transport to continually, ifrequired, present clean support material at the work station whilecontinually removing used support material from the transport.

While this invention has been described with reference to the structuresdisclosed herein and while certain theories have been expressed, it isnot confined to the details set forth; and this application is intendedto cover such modifications or changes as may come within the purposesof the improvement or the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A method of transporting support material past a work stationincluding the steps of a. placing the support material on a portion ofmember of a moveable carriage,

b. indexing the support material relative to the carriage to a firstpredetermined position,

c. moving the carriage to traverse the work station,

d. simultaneously moving the support material relative to the carriage,

e. positioning the carriage to prevent interference between the supportmaterial and the work station. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein thesteps of moving the carriage to traverse the work station and thesimultaneous moving of the support material relative to the carriageoccur such that the support material is moved in rolling contact withthe work station.

3. The method of claim 1 further including the step of indexing thesupport material relative to the carriage after the completion ofsteps(a) through (e).

4. The method of claim 3 including removing the support material fromthe portion of the member of the carriage.

5. The method of claim 1 further including the step of placing moresupport material on another portion of the member of the carriage afterthe completion of steps (a) through (e).

6. The method of claim 5 further including the step of indexing thesupport material relative to the carriage after the step of placing moresupport material on the member of the carriage.

7. In an apparatus for forming transferable images having an imagebearing member adapted to support the image formed, the improvementcomprising means for transferring the image to a support materialincluding a belt adapted to maintain the support material,

a carriage to support the belt,

first drive means to move said carriage relative to the image bearingmember,

second drive means to rotate said belt relative to said carriage,

said second drive means being connected for rotating said belt relativeto said image bearing member such that said belt and said image bearingmember pass in rolling contact,

actuator means to activate said second drive means to index said belt apredetermined amount of revolutions.

8. Transport apparatus for moving flexible material relative to a workstation including a carriage movable past the work station,

mounting means joumaled in said carriage and capable of rotationalmovement within said carriage,

a sleeve wrapped on said mounting means in nonslip contact, carriagedrive means operatively connected to said carriage for moving saidcarriage relative to the work station,

second drive means operatively connected to said mounting means torotate said mounting means and said sleeve within said carriage at afirst rate and a second rate,

program means to activate said carriage drive means and said seconddrive means such that said second drive means rotates said sleeve at afirst rate during movement of said carriage and at a second rate whensaid carriage is past the work station.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first rate of rotation of saidsleeve is related to the movement of said carriage such that there is arolling contact presentation of the flexible material at the workstation.

a: a: a: r n:

1. A method of transporting support material past a work stationincluding the steps of a. placing the support material on a portion ofmember of a moveable carriage, b. indexing the support material relativeto the carriage to a first predetermined position, c. moving thecarriage to traverse the work station, d. simultaneously moving thesupport material relative to the carriage, e. positioning the carriageto prevent interference between the support material and the workstation.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the steps of moving thecarriage to traverse the work station and the simultaneous moving of thesupport material relative to the carriage occur such that the supportmaterial is moved in rolling contact with the work station.
 3. Themethod of claim 1 further including the step of indexing the supportmaterial relative to the carriage after the completion of steps (a)through (e).
 4. The method of claim 3 including removing the supportmaterial from the portion of the member of the carriage.
 5. The methodof claim 1 further including the step of placing more support materialon another portion of the member of the carriage after the completion ofsteps (a) through (e).
 6. The method of claim 5 further including thestep of indexing the support material relative to the carriage after thestep of placing more support material on the member of the carriage. 7.In an apparatus for forming transferable images having an image bearingmember adapted to support the image formed, the improvement comprisingmeans for transferring the image to a supPort material including a beltadapted to maintain the support material, a carriage to support thebelt, first drive means to move said carriage relative to the imagebearing member, second drive means to rotate said belt relative to saidcarriage, said second drive means being connected for rotating said beltrelative to said image bearing member such that said belt and said imagebearing member pass in rolling contact, actuator means to activate saidsecond drive means to index said belt a predetermined amount ofrevolutions.
 8. Transport apparatus for moving flexible materialrelative to a work station including a carriage movable past the workstation, mounting means journaled in said carriage and capable ofrotational movement within said carriage, a sleeve wrapped on saidmounting means in nonslip contact, carriage drive means operativelyconnected to said carriage for moving said carriage relative to the workstation, second drive means operatively connected to said mounting meansto rotate said mounting means and said sleeve within said carriage at afirst rate and a second rate, program means to activate said carriagedrive means and said second drive means such that said second drivemeans rotates said sleeve at a first rate during movement of saidcarriage and at a second rate when said carriage is past the workstation.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first rate of rotationof said sleeve is related to the movement of said carriage such thatthere is a rolling contact presentation of the flexible material at thework station.